By Iris Pugh
After years of anticipation, the public can look forward to the newly designed downtown St. Petersburg Pier.
The newly renovated Pier, expected to be completed and open to the public in early 2020, will feature an array of interactive experiences, activities and stunning photo-ops.
The Pier will have a children’s playground, splash pad, picnic area, multiple restaurants and cafés, expanded beach access, fishing deck and bait shop, and an education center.
It will also feature public art by three renowned artists, including a heavily debated $1.5 million aerial sculpture by Janet Echelman, which can be previewed here.
Chuck Prather, owner of the Birchwood on Beach Drive, will open a restaurant and bar at the new Pier head. It is expected to have a sophisticated tiki-style ambiance. His design will include an upscale restaurant, a rooftop bar and a café.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille, associated with bestselling author Randy Wayne White, will have a waterfront location on the pier approach.
The latest plan will replace the inverted pyramid pier, which opened in 1973. The former pier was closed May 31, 2013, due to deterioration and high maintenance costs.
“The overall vision is to create a pier that is not identified by a single building or structure, such as the previous inverted pyramid building was, but rather make the entire redevelopment part of the experience,” said Raul Quintana, architect for the city of St. Petersburg.
Since the demolition in 2015, the area has mostly remained a pile of rubble. In November 2018, vertical construction for the Pier began.
“As a little girl, that used to be the place to be with my family. We would go there all the time,” said Becca Colone, a junior mass communications major at USF St. Petersburg. “Every time a family member from New York came down to visit, that was something we had to do. They still ask about it to this day.”
The Pier’s long-awaited renovations and a handful of amenities are expected to attract more residents and tourists to the downtown area.
“The new pier is redefining 26 acres in the heart of the downtown and connects to our world class waterfront. While much of it is passive, there is something for everyone, and I believe it will complement the growing local culture,” Quintana said.
“We are building a pedestrian linkage to the downtown core with a covered market structure for pop-up markets and vendors. This will help activate the connection of the pier to the downtown.”
Connor Reading, a senior at USF St. Petersburg, moved to the area right after the old pier was torn down.
“I could see myself going there for a nice day at the park or to check out the coastal thicket they have planned,” he said.
There’s still much to be done when it comes to finalizing construction of the pier, but you don’t have to be out of the loop. Documents, presentations, and resources concerning the 2020 pier can be viewed at http://www.newstpetepier.com/
